List Break - Pop Music

Many people have been saying that my blog is focused too much on rock music, and occasionally diverging into rap music, with no mainstream pop music. First of all, rock and rap music are the only two successful genres other than straight forward pop. There are other genres, but they are a bit too underground for people to know about, and thus, have not left the same impression on music. As for less rap than rock, that's simple: Rap music is a much younger genre. But why is it that never give any nod to pop music. I was very cruel to pop artists in my first essay. Let me explain.

Pop music is referred to any genre of music that fits in with popular selling music. Usually, this music is created by record companies to suit modern demands, and ask their recording artists to fill certain demographics. This was constant until the 60's, when The Beatles came around. The Beatles are one of those groups that younger people look back on and go, "What's so special?" but if you try to put yourself in the time zone, you get it. Even though The Beatles are the best selling recording artists of all time, their success was viewed as horrible for record companies. Why? They were the first group to obtain worldwide success while writing all their own songs, and playing all their own instruments, with practically no influence from the record companies. With this new idea of being artsy and popular, the record companies invented a slicker sense of pop music, that was aimed towards teenagers, which came to be known as bubblegum. Throughout the years, rock music (and eventually rap music) have battled pop music for dominant control of the market. The artists vs. the hitmakers.

Now that you understand the history, I'll put it like I believe. My website is designed to find the best music out there. The term "best music" is used lightly, because preference of music is mere opinion. I started this saying that I'm not going to just state my favorite songs and opinions. But, music critiquing is subjective. So here's my system. I'm going to use my opinions to critically decided the stronger music by my own parameters of what defines good music. Yes it is my opinion, but I argue it very well.

As for the disdain for pop music, there is none. True I have ripped on pop music in the past, but that doesn't mean I thought any band in that category sucked. Michael Jackson nearly topped the greatest of the 80's list after all. But, that isn't really a good example. Let's look at music the same way we look at movies. When you here critics like Roger Ebert or the late Gene Siskel talk about movies, they will often use the term "pop movies" to describe blockbuster movies. Pop movies are like pop music, because they are made with heavy influence from studios to make sure the movie (album) makes a profit. These movies are not aimed to be good, as much as they are to provide a good time. You don't listen to pop music because you want to analyze it to death. I enjoy "good" movies, more than I enjoy pop movies, but I still like to go to the theater to enjoy a good time seeing some poorly made Independence Day-esque movie. Independence day was not a "good" movie, but it was an enjoyable time, that left me feeling great. When I watch a movie like The Godfather, I just love watching Marlon Brando's performance and Al Pacino's icy glare, because it provides a chilling, well made experience. I do this same thing in music. I enjoy Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" because I think it is an incredible display of art and performance, but I also like to turn on the occasional Beyonce single, or the overproduced pop metal of Def Leppard's "Hysteria. But, would you see a Beyonce or Def Leppard record on list of greatest records ever? Of course not! It's enjoyable, but it isn't a fantastic piece of art. Every now and than there comes a pop musician that actually makes intelligent and artsy music, like Tom Petty. Full Moon Fever is the Dark Knight of music. A great, intelligent, well made piece of enjoyable pop.

So yeah, there's my motto. You don't have to feel guilty about the pop music you listen to. The artist made it so that you could enjoy it. So do that! But remember, it isn't going to be remembered 20 years later as much as it's political rap side partner.